Good news for those who want to advance their education but lack money for tuition! It is possible to earn a degree from a highly reputable university free of charge. Below is a list of the 10 best free university courses (in no particular order) available for you:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)
MIT is ideal for those looking for a wide range of free courses offered online. The university’s OpenCourseWare project has more than 1,750 free courses that are in text, audio and video formats. OpenCourseWare is used by students worldwide, most of whom say they would recommend the site to other students.

2. Stanford (stanford.edu)
Stanford University, one of the world’s top universities, has teamed up with iTunes U to offer access to Stanford courses, interviews and lectures. Available courses can be downloaded and played on iPods, Macs and PCs and can also be burned to audio CDs and played in CD player.

3. University of California, Irvine (uci.edu)
UC Irvine, recently teamed up with the OCW Consortium to offer free university level courses online. Although currently there are only a few courses to choose from, the list is rapidly growing. Course materials include lecture notes, assignments as well as exams.

4. Open University (open.ac.uk)
Open University’s (UK) OpenLearn website offer both undergraduate and graduate learners free access to learning materials. The materials cover a wide range of topics, such as IT and computing, education, mathematics and statistics, science, health, business and more.

5. University of California, Berkeley (berkeley.edu)
For almost a decade, the University of California, Berkeley has been providing live webcasts of a number of courses including IT, legal studies, engineering, philosophy, psychology and astronomy. Many of the university’s courses, are currently available as podcasts and webcasts.

6. Carnegie Mellon University (cmu.edu)
Carnegie Mellon University’s program called Open Learning Initiative (OLI) offers several free online courses. OLI courses are aimed to allow introductory college level students to learn about a particular subject without formal instruction. Courses cover a wide range of topics, such as economics, biology, French, statistics and physics.

7. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (kutztownsbdc.org)
The Kutztown University of Pennsylvania has a resource centre, Small Business Development Center, that boasts the web’s largest collection of free business programs.

8. Utah State University (usu.edu)
Utah State University is also a good choice for those looking for free online courses. The university offers a number of download-able text-based courses ranging from physics to anthropology and theatre arts.

9. University of Southern Queensland (usq.edu.au)
University of Southern Queensland, Australia, offers free online courses through its OpenCourseWare initiative.

10. Tufts University (tufts.edu)
Tufts University, a private research university in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts, has OpenCourseWare that is available free to everyone.Course materials include lecture notes, assignments and other supplementary materials.

RYA is the national body of UK for all forms of boating. RYA works with Government agencies, local authorities and harbour/navigation authorities to ensure that the publics right of navigation is always upheld. RYA also provides training courses for recreational boaters (beginners) as well as professionals. RYA sailing courses are renowned both in the UK as well as in other countries of the world. RYA constantly modifies and remodels its training courses to make sure that their courses are up-to-date and covers all the aspects in the modern world of boating. RYA courses are designed to give its pursuers a comprehensive understanding of safety issues, regulations and emerging trends; among other things.

The British Governments Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which is an agency in the Department of Transport, has authorized RYA to issue certificates of competence to personnel who have successfully completed RYA training courses. Certificates issued by RYA are recognized throughout the world as is evident by the fact that 13,000 professionals having RYA certificates are employed on commercial vessels. Currently there are over 100 different RYA courses offered to the public. These sailing courses can be categorized into Sail Cruising, Motor Cruising, Navigation and Seamanship Theory, Specialist Short Courses, Powerboating, Small Boat Sailing, Windsurfing, Inland Waterways and Personal Watercraft.

Currently, there are over 2,300 RYA recognized training institutes situated in 41 countries. If you are wishing to pursue a sailing course, it is always advisable to check whether there are any boating institutes in your neighborhood which has been certified by the RYA. As aforementioned, you will be able to pursue a world recognized and up-to-date training course if you register with a RYA sailing school. You can visit the RYA official website to check whether there are any RYA recognized sailing schools in your neighborhood. You can conduct a search by your location and by the type of course preferred. The website also lists out the types of courses offered by RYA. It will provide you with the vital information needed to make a decision such as Pre-course experience, Assumed knowledge, minimum duration and course content. Judge your level of competence as well as your personal preference and select a training course which is most suitable for you.

After completing the course you will be required to face an examination to check whether you have acquired the skills set forth by the course. If you are a resident in the UK, you are given the option of applying privately or through a RYA recognized training school, but if you are a resident in another country, you will have to apply through a RYA recognized sailing institute. If you are applying for the exam privately, you are given the option of applying online.

Avalon University School of Medicine is a U.S. based medical program and our graduates are geared for a career in medicine in the United States. Avalon University School of Medicine has taken all necessary steps to ensure that its graduates are eligible for U.S. medical licensure. For a Medical University to be approved, it must be chartered. Avalon University School of Medicine is chartered by the Ministry of Education in Curacao. This charter entitles Avalon University School of Medicine to grant a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree to students who have successfully completed the medical school’s approved curriculum in medical education, which includes an emphasis on USMLE preparation.

Avalon University School of Medicine is also recognized by the United States Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The ECFMG is an organization that promotes excellence in medical education throughout the world. Requirements for graduate certification in the U.S. are outlined by the ECFMG and followed by students graduating from any international medical school. This endorsement means our program is structured so graduates of AUSOM are eligible to take all phases of the USMLE and subsequently apply to U.S. residency programs.

Eligibility for U.S. residency programs recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires Caribbean Medical School students to obtain a certificate from the ECFMG. Certificate eligibility depends on whether a school is listed in the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research’s (FAIMER) International Medical Education Directory (IMED). Avalon University School of Medicine is currently listed in this publication. Medical schools are listed in FAIMER’s IMED when they receive recognition by the appropriate local agency within their country, for example, a Ministry of Education. Additionally, to be eligible for the USMLE, a student must attend a medical school listed in the IMED.

Avalon University is also recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and can be found in their most recent World Directory of Medical Schools. The WHO is an agency of the United Nations that serves to help coordinate and monitor international medical education programs. The WHO recognizes a medical school if it is deemed an appropriate education or training institution for healthcare workers.

Additionally, the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) considers AUSOM a recognized medical school. This recognition permits AUSOM’s graduates to pursue Canadian residency positions and Canadian medical licensure. This includes taking the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE), which is the Canadian equivalent of the USMLE.

At Avalon University School of Medicine, our goal is to ensure that students and graduates of the medical school program are prepared and successful in all aspects of their medical career endeavors. The faculty at Avalon University provides a unique and modern medical education experience; while continually focusing on the preparation for the USMLE.

Welding is used for joining materials for constructing structures like rails, bridges, ships, pipelines, pressure vessels, missiles, space ships, gas cylinders and many more things. It is also used for repair and maintenance of worn out or broken / cracked components. It is a manufacturing process which finds applications in any industry. There are people working as Welding Engineers, Welding Supervisors and Welding Technicians – totaling about 800,000 in our country. It has a big role in the industrial development of any country. Today welding technology has advanced so much that welding engineers need to have knowledge of interdisciplinary courses like welding metallurgy, welding processes, joint design, heat transfer, fluid flow and the like. The welding course coverage of any university curriculum for UG Program in Mechanical Engineering /Metallurgical Engineering is normally very meager – about 20% of a full semester course on manufacturing processes. The students undergoing such courses do not develop much appreciation of the subject since the total time and slot available for the content under welding technology is rather very limited, it is suggested that every university should introduce an elective course on Welding Technology during the pre-final year or final year program. The students opting for such an elective course will be able to build a career in welding and related activities and will have a good job prospect.

Alternatively, an engineering institution can introduce an optional non- credit (but mandatory) Certificate course on Welding Technology. Incidentally, many universities encourage the students to study a few non- credit Certificate courses for value addition and furthering their career prospects.

Welding Technology become more advance quickly during the early 20th century. Welding is a fabrication process used to join materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, together. It is more in demand during the First and Second World War. It provides a great opportunity for those students who want to make a career in welding technology or welding engineering. It reduces unemployment from the world. There are number of welding institutes in India provides vocational courses and technical training in welding. After completion of courses Institutes provides a certificate. These certificates are helpful for learner to searching a job. Ador Welding Academy Pvt Ltd has developed curriculum modules that can be introduced in Polytechnic and Engineering Colleges at the pre-final year/ final year of the program. These curriculums also include actual practice sessions and working on a production-shop related welding project. The placement service of the academy also provides employment linked-services.

In 1895, government representatives decided for graduation dresses. These days, everyone was feeling that every education institute should have their own color or dresses. University or school students, when reached next level of study, change of dress must be shown. So according to this scenario, importance of graduation dresses was increased. This time different varieties of graduation dresses were not in the market so, some institutions asked the students for wearing hooded robes. Another different thing is that when students crossed the level of their class, dress was changed and new tassels looked like on their dresses. Tassels were also become the part of the graduation dresses. Tassels and graduation dresses were the symbol of this thing that such student belonged from specific university or college and about the name of university was also showed because every university and college had different dresses and tassels.

These days, Robes students also wear hooded dresses with different colors combination according to their study level. Hoods are long in length and it is depend on students education abilities and age. Doctoral hood is 3 feet long and different paints are decorated by this hood and also different color has the part of the hood as well. Other members of staff also wear different colors graduation dresses. Caps, pattern, colors, lengths are the part of their dresses. In fact, graduation ceremony regalia is belonged on centuries ago and these days, graduation ceremony is looked like more gorgeous because facilities are available everywhere. If your body shape is look like hourglass figure, then pick up a halter dresses.

In America, first degree graduates used caps and gowns during graduation ceremony. Masters degree holders wear same gown and cap with some changes. Doctors degree holders wear crimson silk graduation dresses during their graduation ceremonies. These all dresses are the symbol of students study level and this interesting thing can be shown during their graduation ceremonies. This kind of contradiction tells about the students study level and they are dividend on different categories according to their mature level of study.

Caps and gowns are become the part of graduation ceremonies and almost in all universities, these dressing rules are followed. Different of designs can be seen in different places. These changes are traditions and followed by centuries. Different standards of graduation ceremony are different places. It is depend on students position. Students graduation dresses is the symbol of his education level. Although these things works as a formality, but these formalities are also important because these are following by long time ago.
Graduation dresses gives the lesson of equality. Student is rich or poor, black or white if he is completed is degree level so, he will follow the rules and will wear the same color of graduation dresses as university management asked to them. These things help the students in the next and their behavior with each other will be good.

Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women is another Delhi University (DU) college that offers various types of career courses and vocational courses that may not be on the popularity radar but are high on employability quotient. Various career and vocational courses offered by the college are uniquely designed so as to bridge the gap between the University and industry. When IT comes to creating job opportunities, vocational education and courses are the potential mine field. The term vocational means work related, So if you are doing a vocational qualification it means you are learning skills that will help you to get a job quite easily. The applied practical training imparted in our curriculum fills up the lacunae of the conventional pure science courses.

The three-year degree programmes offered by the college are B.Sc (Hons) in Electronics, Instrumentation, Food Technology, Computer Science and Biomedical Sciences. All these career courses are inter-disciplinary and the students undergo eight weeks of industry training in their second and third years. There is also a need to change the mindset of the people towards vocational education and training. They have to be counselled about the changed situation and the relevance about vocational education and training. A negative mindset towards the course from the part of the parents is one of the biggest impediments in making vocational education popular.

This year, the college has received around 15,000 applications for various career courses with the maximum being for Computer Science, followed by Food Technology and Biomedical Science. However, Electronics and Instrumentation offer equally good opportunities. The students of electronics are either working in the IT industry or studying at various universities including the IITs.

The students also have the several option of taking up the add-on course of CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate), which is recognised worldwide and helps in placements. Though many students move on to pursue a Ph.D, the college helps them in placements.

In the past, students have been placed with mainly IT companies like HCL, Sapient, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Siemens, Wipro, Motorola, LG Electronics, NTPC, Dabur, Nirulas, Kwality, Glaxo Smithkline, TERI, National Heart Institute, Jubiliant Organosys and Ranbaxy Laboratories, among others. The starting salaries offered to students have been in the range of Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers a variety of motorcycle rider courses at the American Honda Complex in Alpharetta, Georgia, a northern suburb of Atlanta. These courses provide state of the art rider education for new riders as well as being refresher courses for more experienced riders. The goal is to make motorcycle riding a safer and more enjoyable experience. The Alpharetta complex is one of the most active training facilities in the country.

Motorcycle riders can enroll in the Basic RiderCourse to earn their license waiver. This 2 day course teaches both physical and mental skills that are important for safely operating a motorcycle. The course includes classroom instruction as well as riding time. In the Basic RiderCourse-2, students will continue to hone the traffic skills they learned in the initial course.

The Basic Bike Bonding RiderCourse is the next step in the curriculum. Riders will continue to develop and practice skills beyond those learned in the Basic RiderCourse. There is no classroom component in this course. The Ultimate Bike Bonding RiderCourse was developed for riders who have a solid foundation of basic skills and some recent riding experience. There is no classroom component. Experienced riders may want to take the Advanced RiderCourse or enroll in the soon-to-be-offered Street RiderCourse.

Those who have never ridden a motorcycle may want to try out the new SMARTrainer simulator, which mimics a motorcycle riding experience. A computer screen presents 17 different riding environments and situations for the rider to respond to. The environments include daytime riding, night riding, and different weather conditions. There is no fee to use the SMARTrainer, which is designed to be a bridge to the beginner courses.

The American Honda Complex also offers dirt bike school classes for those who want an exciting off road experience. The motorcycle and all protective gear are provided. There is a Closed Range Exercise Course, a Trail RiderCourse, and even a class geared specifically for females only. The dirt bike summer camps are also popular. Riders six years of age and older may sign up with a parent for dirt bike courses. Many families participate in these classes together.

Also available at the Honda Complex are ATV RiderCourses. These courses are conducted through the ATV Safety Institute. This hands-on training course for riders of all terrain vehicles emphasizes the skills and techniques necessary for responsible riding. The institute will soon offer a 3 Wheel Basic RiderCourse.

The Honda Motorcycle Safety Foundation Campus is located at the American Honda Complex at 1450 Morrison Parkway in Alpharetta, Georgia. Participants may register for courses online at www.offroad-training.org.

For over two hundred years, distance learning has been a means of gaining education for those who, for whatever reason, elect to study from their home. Beginning with the first correspondence courses that were offered through advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and later also marketed on the backs of matchbook covers, through to the vast amount of distance learning opportunities currently offered by both universities and by independent schools, the chance to broaden ones knowledge without having to attend a physical school has offered academic independence to millions of students of all ages, across all areas of study.

Regardless of what the program is, and what sort of education it provides, whether it is a home school for children in middle school, a specialized upgrade class for someone in a trade or a masters program, distance learning can be broken into two mostly separate, but sometimes overlapping categories: online courses and correspondence classes.

Correspondence courses, which are the traditional method of providing distance education, make use of the postal system to distribute learning materials to the student. While there is usually a firm final date by which all activities and assignments must be completed and handed in, the actual course scheduling is left open, for the student to design according tot their needs. Correspondence courses may make use of materials that use technology, such as learning videos, and students nowadays typically use a computer for word processing and more often than not, for submitting their work via email as well, traditional correspondence courses do not rely upon technology for distribution or actual work completion or submission. Student study and work independently, even though there are likely to be many other students studying the same program. Group assignments and classes are not part of this type of distance learning, as a rule.

Conversely, online courses have a tendency to be presented to a group of students at one time, in a virtual classroom model. Through the use of computer technology, online live real-time virtual classrooms present the material and lessons to students in a group, and forums and programs are in place to all discourse and discussion between students, who can and are encouraged to work together. As classes are not independent, the schedule is far tighter than that found in correspondence classes, which keeps the group learning and advancing together.

Choosing a subject to study at University which will stand you in good stead for your future life can seem a somewhat daunting process. It is important to choose not only something that you believe will help you on your future career path, but to choose a subject that you enjoy.

Law is a very broad subject and one that can lead you down many differing career paths. From my law class alone people have undertaken further training in order to qualify as a solicitor/barrister, joined the police force, joined the graduate training programme at the local council, become a teacher and someone is now even working for the United Nations. Law provides you with the skills and knowledge to progress and develop in any career path that you should choose.

Think long and hard before choosing to study law at university as it is by no means an easy feat. But that said, successfully completing three years of study is one of the most satisfying feelings.

Of course not every subject comes without the down sides. It requires serious amounts of reading and analysing lengthy boring documents! Depending on your personal preferences some core topics on your can be quite mundane.

However, the plus points far out weigh any negatives. You will gain many skills that will be necessary in later life.

The advocacy element of your subject will provide you with the confidence and skills needed to express you opinion throughout your future work and personal life.

The ability to work within a team when trying to co ordinate those all important presentations, and the need to work and study alone are vital skills that are transferable into the work place.

Law is a challenging yet very rewarding subject to study at university. It will well equip you for future life; work related or within your personal life.

Distance education is as old as the wide availability of written materials and literacy. As textbooks and written guides became increasingly common, skill seeking or curious people had another way to learn alongside lectures and apprenticeships. From historical records of newspaper advertisements, we know that correspondence courses were available as early as 1728. Today, distance education can be taught be anyone, from individual private instructors to accredited colleges, in virtually any subject from a health science program to an accounting diploma.

Why Distance Education?

Because theres no cost for classrooms and other facilities, distance education is often cheaper than an equivalent traditional program. In very basic courses, the overhead costs are the instructors marking time, and how long it takes to assemble the initial materials, and even in courses where theres more communication between the teacher and the learner, theres less need for formal office space and the only transportation costs are the internet bills or postage.

Delivery Systems

The quality and means of delivery varies between courses. For much of their history, educators and schools relied on the post, with teacher or institution and student mailing each other assignments and course materials. These days, many courses are taught over the computer and students can review recorded lectures, participate in interactive tutorials and even have face to face conversations with instructors through video conference software.
Furthermore, theres a plethora of systems to administer and score quizzes on the computer.

Who Does Distance Education Suit?

People who live in sparsely populated or where a program of this nature is not available get particular benefit from distance education. For example, Canadian children in the arctic can stay with their parents and still get a basic education this way. Correspondence courses are also perfect for people who need a flexible schedule. Because study and course materials are completed at the pace of the student, whether its a new career or continuing education, its possible for students to juggle responsibilities and study at the same time. Another category includes students in a regular program, who want to supplement their studies with a course thats not available in their school. For example a student could be in a health science program and discover that a new medical technique is only taught at another school. Rather than transfer schools, they might learn about it through distance education and then apply the credit to their degree.

In addition to learning skills, a popular topic for distance education is exam preparation and professional certification. In this case a student may have already have been working in a field or completed studies, but is missing professional credentials or industry membership. An example of this is a person with an accounting diploma who wants to become chartered. In this case they know the material and just need to extra practice for the test that proves it.